What happens during an ADHD coaching session?
When people talk about getting ADHD coaching they rarely talk about what happens in the actual coaching session!
You thought the hard part was finding the right coach for you, but the real hard part is doing the work. For some people it will take months and in some cases years for you to make the changes needed to reach your goals. You have to put yourself forth to get the most out of the experience.
With many ADHD coaches, after you sign up you begin your sessions that usually range in length from 30, 45 or 50 minutes. Some coaches, like myself, do a longer initial session which some other coaches and I call an “Intake Session.” These sessions range anywhere from 90 minutes to 2 hours and are often a combination of an introduction to ADHD coaching, necessary paperwork, any assessments the coach might want to do and determining your goals for your coaching experience. I like these sessions because I feel they jumpstart the relationship and allow us to get to work immediately in our regular sessions without wasting any time.
In coaching, the coach and the client are partners. So they talk about what the client wants to work on. The coach helps by asking questions and providing information about ADHD so that the client can develop a plan and come up with ideas on how to move forward.
Often at the end of the session the client and the coach will review what the client plans to do or think about before the next session and how they will support themselves in doing it. This may include trying out new systems of getting things done or rehearsing how to respond in a particular situation that is looming or comes up repeatedly.
Depending on the coach, there may be contact between the sessions by phone, text or email to update the coach, notify the coach on the progress being made or to discuss a roadblock that has occurred. These contacts are almost always client initiated.
Basically, the ADHD coaching session is a conversation between you and the coach where you set the agenda (if you have difficulty with coming up with an agenda, a good coach will remind you of what your goals are and help you to re-engage with them.) Each of you is an experts, you on yourself and the coach on coaching and ADHD so it is a true partnership.
Now you know what to expect from an ADHD coaching session. Is this what you imagined a coaching session would be like or did you have a different idea? Share your thoughts. I love comments!
Abigail Wurf, M.Ed, CLC
ADHD and Executive Functions Coach
Abigail Wurf works with adults, couples and parents affected by ADHD or executive function issues (see definition below) in a coaching and/or consulting capacities. Her clientele also includes college and graduate students struggling to make it through their programs.
She conducts workshops and speaking presentations on executive function issues such as productivity, planning, prioritizing, goal setting, time management, task initiation, emotional regulation, focus, meta-cognition, working memory, self inhibition and flexibility/shift.
Abigail’s work also includes presentations on ADHD, specific executive functions or theories of executive functions, invisible disabilities, resiliency and motivation.